Leadership Troy's 2017 Distinguished Citizen Karol Carter

Karol Carter is a unique, one of a kind, compassionate, devoted, hardworking, amazing, driven, yet very professional lady. Karol has served on many committees in the community of Northfield Hills (one of the largest condo communities consisting of 646 condos) where she lives in Troy. She has been the chairman of the Clubhouse Committee, held the offices of Chairman and Secretary of the Grounds Committee (planting flowers and watering the gardens to beautify the condo grounds). She is a member of the Art on the Lake Committee (members who put on the only outdoor fine art show in Troy). Karol has worked the Rouge River clean-up for many years. She was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award by Northfield Hills in 2006.

Karol also belongs to the Troy Garden Club where she has served as President for two years, Recording Secretary for 3 years, Garden Walk Chairman for 3 years, Captain of the Gardens at the Historical Village of Troy and the Troy Library where she planted flowers and watered them daily for months. She earned the Volunteer of the Year Award by the Troy Garden Club in 2011. Karol is a supporting member of the Troy Nature Society for over 8 years. She has volunteered at the front desk at the Nature Society, has taken care of live animals and adopted some of them. She monitors the bluebird houses, assists in the maple syrup events at the Nature Center. She has worked on many programs there and assisted with the fundraisers like the Wine and Beer Events, Ice Cream Social, Pancake Breakfast and Maple Syrup Tree Tapping. She has also helped maintain the trails at the Nature Center and has put in hundreds of hours volunteering for them which earned her the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2012 from the Troy Nature Society.

At the Historic Village, Karol has helped on committees to raise money for the Village by working The Traffic Jam Car Show, the building of the scarecrows for Troy businesses at Halloween. She has decorated Christmas Trees to be auctioned off and was a part of the Hanging of the Greens on the Village property during the holidays. Karol has planted the many beautiful gardens at the Village and maintained them and is in charge of organizing the City of Troy’s Perennial Plant Exchange.

Volunteering at Sunrise Assisted Living Center is another of Karol’s acts of kindness. She has assisted residents with monthly projects, field trips, Bingo Night and arts and crafts. She would help those residents who had no family or couldn’t feed themselves always with a cheerful smile. Helping older residents came natural to Karol since she did that daily in her own community of Northfield Hills like shoveling snow from their walkways or cleaning off snow from their cars, caring for their animals and watching out for them.

Karol Carter definitely is an amazing person with infectious energy and positive spirit. She is an asset and devoted to the betterment of the City of Troy and its people. She has positively made an impact on the quality of life in Troy through her selflessness ways of doing the many thankless, unglamorous jobs she has done. Karol is an inspiration to all. We need more people like Karol in this world.

Leadership Troy's Business Community Appreciation Award THE CHOICE GROUP dba Choice Properties

​Since 1979 The Choice Group has been in the development, ownership and stewardship of single family developments and office buildings of Troy. It has invested in the growth and development of over a dozen of our residential subdivisions, adding beauty and sustainability to our landscape.

The Choice Group has provided financial support to many Troy community organizations over the years, often the major donor. It has contributed regularly to the Boys and Girls Club of Troy, the Troy Rotary, Leadership Troy and the Troy Community Coalition.

The Choice Group each year provides a table for its employees at the Troy Community Coalition’s Prayer Breakfast in May and at the Coalition’s Celebrity Night Dinner in October.

The Choice Group completed and complimented the Troy Peach Garden outside of the Troy Public Library by building a beautiful water fountain there adding brilliance to the setting.

Since 1986, The Choice Group has sponsored the Troy Middle School Writing Contest, “Proud to be an American”. (It’s a good fit since The Choice Group owners, Kamal and Yasmine Shouhayib, who are from Aley, Lebanon, are proud to be Americans). In this contest, six students from each Troy Middle School are selected by a citizen panel of judges from each building. All 24 winners receive a monetary award from The Choice Group.

The commitment, hard work and financial support provided by The Choice Group for the good of our community surely deserves the recognition that the Appreciation Award would provide.

2017 Volunteers of the Year

​“Each year the various community organizations that help make Troy the great place to live, are asked by Leadership Troy to select a member as their respective outstanding volunteer of the year. This year fifteen (15) organizations have chosen a member or members to honor.” Said Mary Kerwin, Vice President of Leadership Troy. “The sixteen (16) honorees are recognized for the many volunteer hours they give to their organization. This can be for helping with fund raising events, organizing projects that provide assistance, holding fun events for youth and/or seniors, planning networking and social activities, communicating news about the organization via social media (web site, newsletters, Facebook, etc.) and running the organization to name just a few of the areas volunteers give their time.”

One of the biggest nights of the year is quickly approaching. Annually, the staff of the Boys & Girls Club of Troy (BGCT) transform our building into the epicenter of Halloween Tricks and Treats. Members, their families, and guests are welcome to to join us from 5:00-8:00 pm. Throughout the night, activities will include a haunted laser tag area, a haunted house, carnival games, music and dancing, food and drinks, and much more. Also, come dressed to impress. There will be a costume contest for some great prizes.

Club members will receive 10 free tickets upon entry, which can be used for food or games. For $2 members and guests can purchase 10 additional tickets.

The Flu Shot is the Best Way to Protect Yourself Against the Influenza VirusThe Oakland County Health Division will offer flu shots recommended for ages six monthsand older. Bring picture ID with current address and Medicare/Medicaid card for billing. Forthose without Medicare/Medicaid, the fee is $25 or $47 for the high dose shot.Reservations are not required. For more information, call the Oakland County Nurse on Callat 1.800.848.5533. This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Troy Seniors.Wednesday, Oct. 18,2017 10 am-l pmTroy Community Center Room 304/305Call 1.800.848.5533 for details.

It's that time of the year to nominate an outstanding business/organization, organization volunteer, and aDistinguished Citizen for our annual Recognition Banquet. This year, the Banquet will be held at a new location:

San Marino ClubNovember 9, 2017Reception at 6:00 PMDinner at 6:45 PM

For more information on how the nomination process works and/or nominate a business, volunteer or aDistinguished Citizen, please visit our Recognition Banquet page by clicking here.

Troy Chamber of Commerce and its Non-Profit Network is holding its 12th Annual Nonprofit Management Conference presented by PNC BANK on Thursday, May 18, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.

The Conference will be held at Walsh College located at 3838 Livernois Rd., Troy, MI 48083.

This affordable, day-long management conference is designed for nonprofit professionals, board members and volunteers. Attendees have the opportunity to choose a variety of seminars, ranging from social media for nonprofits and accounting best practices to fundraising and effective speaking. Additionally attendees will receive information to help them improve their operations in seven core areas specifically geared toward nonprofit organizations: Marketing, Finance & Accounting, Strategic Planning, Technology, Fund Development/Donor Relations, Staff Training & Volunteer Relations, and Leadership/Board Development.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Human Resources/ Volunteers/ Staff:

Diversity in Your Nonprofit? Pro Tips and Pitfalls

Strategic Planning:

Develop a Strategic Plan That Results in Operational Action

Marketing:

Obtaining Event Sponsorship

The Three E's of Event Planning: Engage, Entertain & Extract

Making Headlines: Secrets to Successful Interviews with Journalists

Governance and Operations:

Will Donated or Leased Space Work for Your Nonprofit?

Corporate Governance Made Easy

Can I Do That? Should I Do That? Do I Have To Do That? Legal Issues for Nonprofits

Finance & Accounting:

Endowments - Bolster the Financial Stability of Your Organization for Today and Tomorrow